Texas
Sandwiches to socialism: How a DSA chapter in Austin is building political power
AUSTIN, Texas | When the socialists filed into the pews of a church sanctuary in Texas, there were far more than would have attended just two years ago. But that was before members of the Democratic Socialists of America were winning congressional primaries, and the acronym “DSA” became a fixture on television news chyrons. And […]
PEN America: Nearly 12,000 school book bans in a year, a record high
NEW YORK | Nearly 12,000 bans took place in public schools over the past year, according to a new study from PEN America, the highest total since the free expression organization began tracking removals five years ago. For the second straight year, Stephen King was the author most likely to have his work withdrawn. Many […]
Venezuelan delivery driver shot by ICE has surgery to remove bullet
AUSTIN | A Venezuelan delivery driver who was shot by a federal immigration agent in Texas had surgery Thursday to remove the bullet lodged in his back for nearly two weeks. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, had appeared in court in a wheelchair on Wednesday, wearing a sling on his arm. He remains in custody […]
Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts
AUSTIN, Texas | When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his campaign for Senate last year, he skipped the local pageantry. Instead, records show, the conservative firebrand announced his bid on Fox News, cleared his calendar and booked a hotel in Augusta, Georgia, during the storied Masters golf tournament, a trip that cost Texas taxpayers […]
Muslim Americans push back as Republican politicians stoke anti-Sharia rhetoric ahead of election
NEW YORK | Some of the loudest cheers for Sen. Ted Cruz at the Republicans’ recent midterm convention in Dallas came after the Texas politician targeted Muslim Americans and their faith’s religious code. “Sharia law has no place in America,” said Cruz. “We need to stand together and stop it now.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott […]
Colorado power grid upgrades part of $2B push to prevent blackouts, address data center worries
AURORA | Colorado will receive $250 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to upgrade a key power transmission connection between Colorado and Texas, state and federal energy officials announced from Aurora yesterday. The grant is part of a U.S. Energy Department project spending about $2 billion to try to squeeze more electricity out of […]
Republicans dump cash into red states as they try to hold the line against Democrats in the midterms
WASHINGTON | Republicans are growing increasingly grim about their chances in November, with aligned groups pumping money into reliably GOP states and candidates scrambling to distance themselves from unpopular White House policies. From Texas to Ohio and Alaska to Iowa, campaigns are grappling with a fed-up electorate that is sour on the president and angry […]
Economic frustration tests Trump’s standing with rural voters, new AP-KFF poll finds
WASHINGTON | About half of rural American voters believe the economy is worse off now than when President Donald Trump returned to office, according to a new survey that points to economic frustration among a key group that has backed him and other Republicans in recent elections. The Associated Press, in partnership with KFF, polled more […]
The fight over congressional maps put nearly 35 million people into new House districts, report says
WASHINGTON | The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study. A report by Protect Democracy found that 34.8 million people — about one in 10 Americans — now […]
Kimmel says interview with James Talarico won’t air on TV under pressure from the FCC
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel said the agency that regulates television “threatened” the show and that an interview with James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, will not air on television but on YouTube — thus bypassing any control or regulation by the Federal Communications Commission. It’s not the first time a TV […]